Scripture exhorts us to fix our eyes upon Jesus (eg Hebrews 12:2). Beholding him and looking to him is a vital part of the Christian walk.
I'd be really interested to know what this means practically for folks, both in prayer/devotional activities and in day to day life. So, how do YOU focus on Jesus?
Sorry if this sounds like a really basic question, but I'm really keen to hear peoples thoughts.
As rich as God's creation is, you will find that many versions of personal worship and focus. Though the Glory of God is singular, in that it belongs to The Holy One, His worshipers worship (focus) on Him in a multitude of ways. So there is no "silliness" to your question.
I watch all around me for every possible directing from Christ. For instance, I was fasting the other day and my dog got sick. Not sick once but twice. One yellow, the next grey. With concern I looked to the Lord in my soul. The reply was, "Why are you fasting?". I sought for an answer in my mind and found no reason. He was showing me that to fast out of fear or to believe that He expects me to hurt myself is no reason to fast at all. He takes no more pleasure in that kind of fast than I did at my dog being sick.
But in a more pointed response to your question I might ask the following: How can he who receives from the hand of the Lord know how to focus on what can not be seen? Isn't it more like He causes us to focus when we ask His help? Isn't it the Soverign God of Glory who gives what man lacks and provides that which is beyond even our knowledge? I trust Him. I see His loss. My sin causes His loss. Yet as a lamb he was lead to the slaughter. "Forgive them, Father, for they do not know what they are doing."
I might have begun to go off a bit there.... Hope it helps.
I posted my response then went off to read others. Then something hit me with an astounding force. Look at what is being responded to and what isn't. Of all the posts I would think cause a joy and thunderous response, it would be such as focusing on jesus. I had fun thinking of how I focus on Jesus...... maybe too much fun....... Barffffff... yea right.
I'm just puzzled at the lack of interest. Great question Butters! It's unpopularity says a volume. hmmmm.
i don't know about others, but to me it just seems like such a crazy question.
Yet, for me regarding this, it's supposed it's a bit different. i have a brother who died at an early age, and Jesus more than fills that void of relationship. A Brother that sticks closer than anybody or anything else.
i do think of everything done in relation to Him.
Things that have brought me closer in relationship?
Worshipping Him.
Praying about everything that comes to my attention and in everything that is done: constant talk back and forth.
Relying on Him to lead and guide.
Past memorization and current meditation on the 4 'servant songs' in Isaiah.
Making the gospels and Acts a regular reading plan, along with the other times set aside for reading, and as well times of study.
Regularily daily focusing on Phil. 2, Rom. 6, and Mt. 5-7.
Pouring through the book of Revelation completely every 3 days.
These are the regular dailies here.
Love, Hope, and Faith,
g
Butters asked: "So, how do YOU focus on Jesus?"
Over 50 years ago at baptism the following verse was given to me:
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. Ps 37 v5.
Throughout the whole of my life these words have been on my lips constantly as part of my prayer as I walk. So in practical terms I speak to the Lord Jesus throughout the day, under my breath, out loud when alone asking, "What next Lord?" or "How do we do that, Lord".
When difficult situations appear I pray, ask and then commit the situation and the actions I take to the Lord Jesus - and then get on with it.
He has never let me down - how ever often I stumble and fall, He always picks me up and the song starts again - this is worship at His feet.
God bless you all.
Terry
Practically speaking, I know of no greater means of keeping my sights on the Lord then reading and remembering his word.
I want you to know Ive been really thinking about this question, and have begun compiling my own personal list of scriptures on this topic that I hope to share here in a few days.
In the meantime, my contribution to the answering of how we endeavor to see Jesus in our lives is divided into three basic premises. They are perhaps childish in their simplicity.
1) Do give your heart purely to the Lord.
Matt. 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
2) Don't become overly preoccupied with other loves.
1John 5:21 Little, children, keep yourselves from idols.
3) Don't become preoccupied with hate or fear.
Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
Col 1:13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
Blessings,
MC
Well we can't actually see Jesus so to me it's about focusing on His word and trusting Him by faith. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Some might fall into the trap of guided imagery like in the song Hosanna by Hillsongs: I can see the King of Glory coming on the clouds with fire...I see this, that and the next thing (listen to the song and how many times the see word comes up) which is akin to guided imagery techniques and hypnotic induction. A bit like Yongi Cho and his book the fith dimention and some other picture it name it and claim it WOF folks. Although we can get a basic idea of what God looks like by reading the Word, it will fall short of His true counteinance. And we should not worship the imagined mental constructs our mind comes up with.
The only time you will see anything in the spiritual realm is if you have a genuine vision from God.
Trust in Him and His Word.
That is my personal opinion.
I few thoughts come to mind on things that destroy our focus.
1. We are told to treat our sinful nature as if it were dead, we are to actively and aggressively ignore its demands and desires: Put to death therefore what is earthly in you...(Colossians 3:5 ESV) As a practical matter, the area of forgiveness is huge.
The biblical counsel on forgiveness is very different from what we hear in the world today. These days we are told to search our past for the answers to our problems. Every wrong must be righted and if we have been hurt, then we are to be pitied as victims. The end result of this advice is that we become self-obsessed. In contrast the Bible tells us to forget about ourselves, including our past, if we have been truly wronged we are to forgive, as difficult as that may seem; And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)
2. The Bible tells us that the world system has a bad influence on us spiritually, shifting our focus from Jesus to the things that are fleeting. We are responsible to discern what tends to drag us back into old, sinful patterns and avoid these things that block our focus:
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
(Titus 2:11-13)
3. Even though Satan has been defeated, he still actively tries to influence us. We are responsible to resist his temptations and seek strength from God alone: Be subject therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
Satan uses the influences of the world and our self-centered natures to tempt us, to shift our focus away from Jesus. You can expect him to plant doubt in your mind, even about the choice you have made to trust Jesus. He will say your faith isn’t big enough or that you didn’t really understand. Remember, he is the father of lies, he’s been lying to man since the Garden of Eden, resist him and do what Jesus did, go to the Bible for help.
In Christ,
Ron
Thanks for your insights folks, I really appreciate your thoughts.
As someone who has a tendency to become overly introspective, I often get the counsel of 'look away from yourself to Jesus'. I often find this difficult as, has been pointed out, you can't see Jesus in the same way you see other people. So knowing what to focus on can be sometimes be tricky.
"I often find this difficult as, has been pointed out, you can't see Jesus in the same way you see other people. So knowing what to focus on can be sometimes be tricky."
This question calls to mind some thoughts from Matthew Henry. (Commentary on Malachi 4.)
"Though we have not prophets, yet, as long as we have Bibles, we may keep up our communion with God."
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